Local man charged with murder; friend died in wreck he led police on chase

Thursday

Nov 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A Tuscaloosa man accused of leading police on a chase that ended in a fatal crash has been charged with the murder of his friend.

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

A Tuscaloosa man accused of leading police on a chase that ended in a fatal crash has been charged with the murder of his friend.James Thomas Champion, 30, wrecked his Toyota 4-Runner into two Tuscaloosa Police vehicles during a pursuit on U.S. Highway 82 on July 30. His friend Ronald Hoover died after being thrown from the SUV. After hearing evidence in the case, a grand jury issued an 18-count indictment against him Friday.Champion was arrested Tuesday and was being being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Wednesday on $100,000 bond.Police were pursing Champion, Hoover and two women after receiving a report of a burglary in progress at an apartment complex on Skyland Boulevard East.According to an accident investigation conducted by Alabama State Troopers, Champion was intoxicated and driving an estimated 85 miles per hour when he crashed head-on into a TPD Chevrolet Trailblazer and spun off the road. He was driving east on U.S. Highway 82 near the intersection with Old Montgomery Highway.The TPD officers were driving west in the eastbound lane at about 25 miles per hour, according to the report. Both were traveling in what would have been the left lane from their orientation with blue lights and sirens activated.The Tuscaloosa Office of the City Attorney declined to provide a copy of the department’s pursuit policy in response to a public record request submitted by The Tuscaloosa News in July. The office has also declined to answer questions about whether the officers driving west in the eastbound lanes violated city policy or state law, citing the ongoing investigation.A grand jury heard evidence in the case and agreed to charge Champion with murder, manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter in Hoover’s death.Champion faces 15 additional criminal charges, including two counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, three counts of third-degree assault, attempting to elude an officer resulting in a death, DUI, driving while suspended, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, leaving the scene on an accident with injuries, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and speeding.He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on the new grand jury charges on Tuesday.One of the police officers filed a civil suit against Champion, seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages for personal injury and negligence.